Element 1
The Restoration of the Derby Canal from Swarkestone, through Derby City to Sandiacre
For 12 years, The Derby & Sandiacre Canal Trust has been working towards the restoration of The Derby Canal. The route is secured in the local plan; it has the full support of all Local Authorities; £3m of work has been completed in the form of structure restoration, land purchase, studies and reports; Outline Planning Permission for the whole canal is with the local authority. It states in the local plan that; quote;Planning permission will be given". For 18 months, the Canal Trust has been working with the local authority to ensure the best quality application.
The Derby Canal was legally closed in 1964, having failed commercially from the 1930s. The original route had an arm which went from the north side of the river to the village of Little Eaton, a section that has been completely redeveloped. Coal was brought from the coaling villages in mid Derbyshire by a tram road, invented by Derbyshire engineer Benjamin Outram. The wagons were pulled by horses and then lifted from the wheel sets onto the boats. It is thought to be the first example of containerisation in the world. Another Benjamin Outram world 1st was to be found in Derby, where the world's first cast iron aqueduct was to be found carrying the Derby Canal over the Markeaton Brook. The canal served the Derby Silk Mills, now a world heritage site.
It was the original intention of The Derby & Sandiacre Canal Trust to firstly restore the canal, and so create "The Derby Ring" and then look at providing a link into Derby city centre. Strong advice from the Inland Waterways Association and WS Atkins showed that there is no value in an isolated waterway, but there are tremendous benefits from a canal ring. This was why time and funding has been concentrated on the Derby Canal. The creation of a 40km waterway and leisure ring has very far reaching benefits.
- It is a multi-user leisure facility
- It is attractive for weekend walkers, cyclists and boaters
- It encourages overnight stays and spend in what are considered non-tourist areas
- Its connections allow users to explore the Erewash Canal, the River Trent and the River Soar without having to use roads - all connected to the Derby Ring
- It gives quick and easy access to peace and quiet for city dwellers
- It encourages new businesses and jobs
Already, communities are associating themselves because of the waterway. Spondon is determined to have its section back before Borrowash, the next village along the route!
The route of the Derby Canal has no structures that will prevent a complete waterway. Most of it is there in the form of footpath and cycleway, but is a drab monoculture with dying hedgerows that can be brought to life through our volunteers being involved on wildlife projects associated with wetlands. We have already planted 15,000 new trees and we have a trained team to recover hedgerows.
The Derby Canal will provide a 20km, heritage rich, green ribbon of life running through poor inner city areas, industrial parks and brown field sites. The waterway will become 'Living Waters'.
The Trust has responded to the public call, and the economic and environmental benefits to include a link into the very heart of the city as part of the same scheme and to make that link the River Derwent. The belief in the benefits is further supported by the Audience & Access Research Study completed by Professor David Crouch, faculty head of Leisure & Tourism, University of Derby.
Derby is the 11th largest city in England and the only one not to be linked to the national waterways network.
Supported by Derby & Derbyshire Economic Partnership